(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced that the Route 168 bridge deck over Interstate 295 - located at the borders of Bellmawr, Haddon Heights and Mount Ephraim in Camden County - has been reconstructed and is scheduled to be fully reopened to traffic in the normal four-lane configuration this weekend.

The $2.3 million project, which began preliminary construction activity in mid-June, has replaced the former structurally deficient Route 168 bridge deck and superstructure, including the construction of new sidewalks and parapets. A new overhead sign structure was also constructed over I-295 southbound.

Route 168 has been reduced from four travel lanes over the bridge to two travel lanes - one lane in each direction - since August 2012, to accommodate a safe and efficient construction zone. The lane reduction also allowed for the work to be done faster than conventionally staged construction.

NJDOT’s contractor, Richard E. Pierson Construction, will now complete final paving and striping over the bridge, requiring some periodic single-lane closures overnight the next few weeks. The project remains on schedule for completion in late-spring 2013.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.